WO2002034011A2

WO2002034011A2 - Method and apparatus for mental training

Info

Publication number: WO2002034011A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/050633
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dag Landvik
Original assignee: Tempur World, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-10-20
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2002-04-25
Also published as: AU2002231310A1; WO2002034011A3

Abstract

A method of delivering a persuasive message. The method includes providing an audio recording media containing a pre-selected suggestion, playing the recording to provide an initial relaxation interval, playing the recording to provide an intermediate suggestive-theme interval, and playing the recording to provide a conclusion interval providing a sleep including suggestion.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MENTAL TRAINING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

The invention relates generally to audio recordings and uses of audio recordings. Related Prior Art

Motivational books and audio products are known devices people use in an effort to achieve self-improvement in a variety of ways. For example, there are many common publications, audio tapes and compact disc products that are intended to modify behaviors of the users of the products. Such behaviors include losing weight, quitting smoking, enhancing personal relationships, etc.

It is also known that a person is more susceptible to receive such suggestions when that person is in a relaxed, so-called meditative state of mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The overall purpose of the invention is to provide the user with a system for preparing the user's mind to follow the direction of a pre-selected suggestion or theme while in a highly meditative and receptive state of mind. In one embodiment, the invention provides a means by which individuals can subject themselves to a series of preselected audio recordings during the time period immediately prior to their falling asleep. The user starts the audio recording upon laying down to sleep. The recordings have at least three parts: a beginning period of relaxing sounds and/or relaxation instructions and suggestions; a suggestive theme segment; and a sleep inducing segment.

During the initial relaxation interval, the user begins to relax and, toward the end of the interval, enters into a meditative state in which the person's susceptibility to suggestion is enhanced as compared to a fully conscious state. This meditative state of the person's mind has a range, as reflected by changes of brain wave activity. At one end of the range, a normal meditative state is represented. At the other "maximum" end of the range of the meditative state, the person is highly susceptible to suggestion. As the person enters the meditative state and moves along the range of the meditative state towards sleep, the person becomes increasingly susceptible to suggestion. The initial segment of the audio recording encourages relaxation and induces the listener to enter the meditative state of mind and, during the second segment of the recording, to pass along the range of the meditate state of mind toward sleep.

The second segment of the recording is timed to begin while the user is likely to be in and passing through the desired meditative state, and includes a suggestive theme which the user has selected, and which is intended to promote a desired behavior, e.g., weight loss, quitting smoking, motivational themes and the like. Ideally, the second segment of the audio recording plays while the listener passes to the meditative state of mind closest to the maximum conditions of receptiveness to suggestion. The third portion of the audio recording is a conclusion suggesting that the user fall from the highly meditative state into restful sleep for the duration of the night.

One feature of the invention is the provision of a method which exploits the user's natural entry into an increasingly meditative state which reaches its maximum at the onset of sleep. Another feature of the invention is the provision of a method including an audio session concluding with suggestions of restful sleep.

One advantage of the invention is that the utilization of the user's natural passage from a fully conscious state into sleep affords the user with a greater opportunity to be fully receptive to the suggestive theme of the audio recording. This greater opportunity results from the user's passage through the entire spectrum of altered states of consciousness (as reflected by changes in brain wave activity) to the most receptive states of mind which occur immediately prior to sleep. This exploitation of the mind's passage toward a maximum suggestive state of mind can be achieved easily and naturally. In contrast, altered states of consciousness that can be achieved at times other than when approaching sleep, such as by practicing relaxation and/or meditative techniques while retaining consciousness cannot approach the maximum suggestion state.

Another advantage achieved by the invention is ease of use and time savings. No training or practice is needed. Moreover, the user need not set aside particular periods of the waking day or modify their daily routine to use the invention. Rather, people need to sleep, and the invention can be used when the person prepares to sleep. As a result of the time savings, the invention affords a greater opportunity to more people to engage in self- improvement or make use of the self-development techniques offered by the practice of mental training by permitting use of the invention even with the busiest of schedules. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a preferred method embodying the invention. Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 schematically illustrates a method embodying the invention. In particular, the invention includes a method 10 for mental training during the transition from being fully conscious to being asleep. In one embodiment, the method 10 includes the step of providing an audio recording including, among other things, one of a series of pre-selected suggestions or themes. The method also includes the step of playing the recording at the time the user prepares to sleep. This method thus assures that the user receives the suggestion theme during the time period prior to the their falling asleep. With particular reference to Fig. 1 , the audio recording has three portions or segments. The first segment 14 is a period of relaxing sounds and/or relaxation instructions and suggestions. Preferably, the initial relaxation segment of the recording has a duration or elapsed time of approximately 5-10 minutes. During this relaxation interval, the user listens to the recording and begins to relax and enters into a meditative state.

The next portion 18 of the recording is the suggestion theme, and follows the relaxation segment 14. The suggestion theme is timed to begin while the user is likely to be in and passing through the desired meditative state toward a maximum meditative state. The second theme includes a suggestive instructions relating to the behaviors which the user has selected and seeks to modify. The second segment including the suggestion theme preferably has a duration or elapsed time of approximately 10-15 minutes, and is intended to promote a desired behavior, e.g., weight loss, quitting smoking, motivational themes and the like. During this time interval, the user preferably approaches and achieves a maximum meditative state of mind prior to sleep. The recording also has a third, concluding portion 22 which provides instructions intended to induce the user into restful sleep cycles for the duration of the night. The sleep induction portion 22 has a duration of 5-10 minutes and includes suggestive instructions and/or sounds. To employ the method, the user initiates playing the audio recording upon laying down to sleep, and continues listening to the entire audio recording through the first, second and third segments.

As indicated by the description of the method 10, the invention also includes an apparatus in the form of an audio recording having a relaxation segment, a suggestive theme segment, and a concluding, sleep induction segment. The recording can be embodied in any medium, such as compact disc, digital file, audio tape or phonorecord.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. A method of delivering a persuasive message, said method including the steps of: providing an audio recording media containing a pre-selected suggestion; playing the recording to provide an initial relaxation interval; playing the recording to provide an intermediate suggestive-theme interval; and playing the recording to provide a conclusion interval providing a sleep inducing suggestion.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the initial interval includes relaxing sounds and/or relaxation instructions and suggestions.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the initial interval has a duration of time sufficient for the listener to relax and, at the end of the initial interval, enter into a meditative state.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the intermediate level has a duration of time sufficient to permit the listener to pass through a meditative state.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the suggestive theme interval includes message to promote a desired behavior.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the initial interval has a duration of approximately 5-10 minutes.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the intermediate interval has a duration or elapsed time of approximately 10-15 minutes.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the concluding interval has a duration of 5-10 minutes.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the audio media is one of a compact disc, digital file, audio tape and phonorecord.